My journey to a debt free life

Onebrokelady

Cherryfudge said:

Good to hear you had a day for yourself. Also that your Dad has his phone and that SC have acted on your phone call.  

It's funny how frozen foods can sometimes be cheaper than fresh, I've seen it too. Always worth checking!

I will definitely be keeping an eye on the frozen food from now on 😊

Onebrokelady

badmemory said:

That day to yourself was not selfish, it was necessary.  I was still working at 66 & had no intention of actually retiring until my mother went into a care home.  Visiting 4 days a week, 3 of them after work, left me totally drained & eating absolute rubbish.  If I hadn't had Saturdays off I would have screamed & on that day I did absolutely nothing.  A couple of them I didn't even get dressed.  Sometimes we just have to do what we have to do to get through the day.  Beating ourselves up about it does not help, although most of us seem to do it.  So don't you!

I have to say I really enjoyed the day and I agree it was necessary. Visiting 4 times a week sounds tough. I wouldn't be able to keep that up 

Onebrokelady

milann said:

The day to yourself is what you needed. 👍Well done for realising you needed it and following it through 👏👏

Yes it was definitely needed and I felt better for it 😊

Onebrokelady

Sun_Addict said:

I love it when work is manic, I work better when I’m running around like mad 😆

I’m glad your dad isn’t poorly with Covid. 

Not at all selfish taking a day to yourself, you need days like this to keep sane. 

I always function best when I'm up against it but it also depends who I'm working with too. The person I had that day is on it and focused so we got things done. Friday however the person I was with is like a wet blanket and although she is a band above me I have to micro manage and chivvy her along or nothing gets done, it drives me potty 🙄

Onebrokelady

Frustrating day at work yesterday. It was a nice steady day but the person I was with is not very proactive and likes to sit on her backside all day. I kept going to find jobs elsewhere in the hope she would move her butt 😀
It also came to light yesterday that some HCAs have been staying down in the clinic once it's finished and just having I nice time chatting for an hour instead of going back to work on the ward.
 They were caught by one of the sisters on Thursday so now the matrons are keeping an eye on things. Our clinics finished at 4.30 yesterday and it took 20 minutes to tidy clean and set up for the next day which means I left at 16.50 which is ten minutes early but I left ten minutes late on Wednesday so even Stevens. I got a message later in the evening from the sister in charge asking me what time the clinics finish on a Friday so I told her it does vary but today it finished at 16.30 and explained we also have to sort the department for the next day ( our management have no idea how the clinics work ) it wasn't until later that I wondered if the lazy person I was with had not gone back to the ward straight away and had stayed down there. She should have gone back to the ward until 8pm, I've probably dropped her in the poop 😟

Today I was going into town to take my book back to the library and I need some glue but I woke up with a sore throat and a headache so I've stayed at home. I took B for a nice walk through the fields and have just pottered around at home for the rest of the day. I will see how I feel tomorrow and then might go in then. 

Its DD2s birthday tomorrow but we haven't arranged to do anything. We were going to go out tonight but she is on a study day all day today and I'm not feeling great so we won't bother, I might suggest a takeaway. She is going on a walk on Dartmoor with a couple of friends in the morning then we will have birthday cake when she gets back.

On the money front I kept all my receipts for my shopping for February and I went through them today to see how much spent on food last month. It came to the grand total of £153 which is £53 over my budget. I know most of that is because I've basically been shopping for two some of the time as DD has been sharing some of my meals so I'm hopeful that my £100 a month budget will be enough once she moves out. 

I also got my last £66 from the government on the 1st so my energy bill for the month is £209 which is less than January 🎉🎉🎉 I need to pay it by the 13th of March but I make them wait until the last minute because I'm petty 😀😀

I've got to go into the loft tomorrow to get DDs suitcases down for her clothes and she also has an ironing board up there from when she was a student so that can come out as well. She picks her keys up on Wednesday so can move in any time after then. Two of her friends are going to help her move most of her things it's just the settee we are worried about,she might have to hire a man with a van but there are a few on our neighbourhood community FB group so she won't have any problems finding someone. I've told her she can take a reclining deckchair if she can't get it moved straight away 😀 I am replacing g that settee with an armchair and footstool which will go in the corner. It will suit me better because the settee covers up the radiator at the moment so it blocks a lot of the heat. The chair will also be under a wall light so I can use that corner to read or do crafty things. The cats and B will be annoyed at the loss of a settee though because they like sleeping on it .i expect I will have to fight them for the armchair. I can't buy the armchair yet because I have to save up for it so will only have a settee for few months 😊

Onebrokelady

Productive day today😊I didn't go into town in the end. It was so cold and I just couldn't be bothered so I stayed at home and cleaned the settee that DD is taking with her. The cushion covers go in the washing machine and I cleaned the rest of it with my Bissell spot cleaner. I'm very impressed with the results as it looks like new again. When my arms have recovered I will clean the settee I'm keeping.

DD had a lovely time on the moor and when she came home we had Greek food and birthday cake which was lovely. 

Im working 9-5 tomorrow but DD is on holiday all week which means I don't have to get up early to take B out before work. I can stay in bed until 7am 🎉🎉 😊 

I also have a dilemma I'm mulling over, it's not a big drama but slightly awkward. My nephew rents my garage off me and has done for several years. He sends the money to his mum and she transfers it to my bank account. I account for every penny in my budget and I noticed that no payment was made in February. I don't want have to mention it as it's family and it's highly unusual for this to happen. I'm not sure how to broach the subject without it being awkward. He hasn't told me he doesn't need to rent the garage anymore so I'm presuming they have just forgotten. I think I will wait and see if the March payment turns up 🤷‍♀️

Onebrokelady

Forgot to post this. The frugal win of the day was finding a copy of this in the community library when we were out with B. I've been wanting to read it for ages so finding a free copy was great 

Cherryfudge

Happy birthday to your daughter!

It's awkward about the garage payment. If you don't get a March payment it could be worth perhaps asking his mum if he is thinking of giving it up... difficult one.

Humdinger1

@Onebrokelady, days to yourself are investments in your sanity; please don't feel guilty.  You are the maypole that so many people dance around and if you implode, then what?! You're doing brilliantly love Humdinger xx 

foxgloves

@Onebrokelady - I read that book last year. It was recommended by a horsey friend. I'm not remotely interested in horses, riding, etc, but I love books & reading, as well as strong female characters, all of which future hugely..I think you'll love it.
Re the garage rental....agree it's a bit awkward. I think I'd be inclined to see if a March payment arrives & if not, get in touch & say you assume he no longer requires it, as no rent has been received for a couple of months. No need to feel embarrassed. You can always say you're considering advertising it for rent so need to know he definitely no longer wants first dibs on it.
F x